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The 33-year-old fullback has been in good form this season and is currently the NRL’s leading point-scorer this season with 128 points.”Since day one, everyone at the Roosters has made me and my family feel welcome and at home, so that’s a big reason I’m pleased to be extending my time here,” Gordon said.”From a footy perspective, I still feel like the body is really good and I’ve got something to offer. I’m enjoying my footy and being part of the team here at the Roosters.”Gordon is expected to switch to the wing next season with Wests Tigers and NSW Blues fullback James Tedesco arriving at the Roosters in 2018. Photo by: Robb Cox/NRL Photos.Michael Gordon will play on with the Roosters in 2018.read more

“I understand the desire of many to restart. But professional footballers and club employees are also employees. That is why they are also subject to safety and health in their employment.“Heil stressed.Federal Vice Chancellor Olaf Scholz, for his part, He has advocated resuming the season next month. “I would be happy if the Bundesliga could start again in the second half of May, insofar as it is responsible for athletes and coaches, “he said in this regard. The German Minister of Labor, Hubertus Heil, has been shown reacio to play what is missing from the Bundesliga 2019/20 with masks in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, stressing that professional footballers and employees of each club “are subject to safety and health in their jobs”.“I do not think that parties with masks are conceivable. In joint talks with the DFL, constructive work is now being done on other viable solutions, “the minister told ‘Bild am Sonntag’after several meetings with the German Football League (DFL).read more

View comments Gov’t in no rush to rescue animals in Taal Tenorio, Ginebra expecting strong fightback from San Miguel Both teams have won two games apiece and will head to Game 5 on virtual stalemate after four matches have been decided by at least 25 points.There have been sentiments that both teams will eventually clamp down and slow this madness down, but Ginebra forward Joe Devance thinks things will still be in fever pitch.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSGinebra beats Meralco again to capture PBA Governors’ Cup titleSPORTSAfter winning title, time for LA Tenorio to give back to Batangas folkSPORTSTim Cone still willing to coach Gilas but admits decision won’t be ‘simple yes or no’“It is pretty crazy,” said Devance Friday at Smart Araneta Coliseum. “But again, coach Tim [Cone] said when you have two great teams and one just gets on a roll like that, it’s hard to stop when they get that momentum.”“I’m sure Game 5 is going to be pretty crazy so I’m excited.” Nadine Lustre’s phone stolen in Brazil Ginebra was the first to taste the intoxicating satisfaction of a blowout after its 127-99 Game 1 win, but the Beermen retaliated in Game 2, 134-109, and in Game 3, 132-94.San Miguel’s 38-point victory tied the league record for biggest finals win after Alaska bombarded the Beermen, 99-61, in the sixth game of the 1998 Philippine Cup finals.Devance, who had 18 points and five rebounds in Game 4, added that both teams will be able to mix things up come Game 5 and that no two games, despite sharing lopsided margins, are always the same.“Every game is going to be different so we can’t expect to do the same thing the next game,” said Devance.ADVERTISEMENT Palace OKs total deployment ban on Kuwait OFWs Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. ‘High crimes and misdemeanors’: Trump impeachment trial begins MOST READ Peza offers relief to ecozone firms In fight vs corruption, Duterte now points to Ayala, MVP companies as ‘big fish’ Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard PLAY LIST 02:14Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard02:56NCRPO pledges to donate P3.5 million to victims of Taal eruption00:56Heavy rain brings some relief in Australia02:37Calm moments allow Taal folks some respite03:23Negosyo sa Tagaytay City, bagsak sa pag-aalboroto ng Bulkang Taal01:13Christian Standhardinger wins PBA Best Player award If ever there was a time in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup that everything went haywire, it has to be in this championship series between defending champion San Miguel and Barangay Ginebra.ADVERTISEMENT Lights inside SMX hall flicker as Duterte rants vs Ayala, Pangilinan anew After winning title, time for LA Tenorio to give back to Batangas folk Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next LATEST STORIES Judy Ann’s 1st project for 2020 is giving her a ‘stomachache’read more

Thirteen-year-old Fernice Thomas from the Ashmun Street Community is fighting for his life at the St. Joseph Catholic Hospital in the Congo Town, due to “failed kidneys.”Fernice Thomas, who has had a difficult past three years since he was diagnosed with failing kidneys at the age of 11, now finds himself chronically ill, yet with the hope that someone will come to his aid and save him from the inevitable.Jessie Nyenploe, the mother of the chronically ill child, has explained that her son has been battling this sickness for years. She is now reaching out to the media in hopes of finding financial assistance to get her son treated abroad where kidney problems are better treated.“The doctors say that my son’s two kidneys are no longer good and that he needs to be sent to Ghana for them to wash the urine from his system.” She explained.According to Doctor Mahmoud, the doctor of the child, Fernice’s life span will be limited without the immediate treatment of kidney dialysis.“If he is left untreated without any medical intervention, he has less then a month to live, his kidneys are completely destroyed. As each day goes, another day has to come, and he is not guaranteed those days” he added sadly.Fernice Thomas is clearly in a lot of pain and agony as he is barley able to keep his eyes open or breathe steadily due to the excruciating pain. But despite what fate might have in store for him, the child keeps a positive outlook.“I am strong” he whispered to his mom whenever she inquired about how he felt.Mrs. Lah Lah, a relative who has shown support to Fernice’s mother throughout her hospital stay, gave her opinion on what would be necessary to get Fernice on the path to recovery until a kidney replacement can be given. “The only way we can do anything is by getting him to Kenya where they have the dialysis machines. It cost US$575 a week for such cases, and the hospital where he would have to stay during the dialysis would cost about US$175 a day”According to Mrs. Nyenploe, the family has been in the hospital for more then one week since her son fell sick yet again.“ I rushed him to the hospital last week. He had a fever and was very weak in the body; that’s then we brought him. The doctors did the test and said that he has kidney failure and that his kidneys were not functioning. Since he has been in the hospital they have been treating him, even though the Doctor says nothing can be done. They are treating him the best way possible. They say the only way to save him is to fly him out of the country. So now I am depending on the media with the grace of God.” She added tearfully.Fernice’s two kidneys are said to no longer be functional and therefore will need a special medical procedure known as dialysis that can prolong the patient’s life span until they are able to find a replacement kidney.Dialysis is a process for removing waste and excess water from the blood, and is used primarily as an artificial replacement for lost kidney function in people with renal failure. Dialysis may be used for those with an acute disturbance in kidney function“They say damage to his kidneys is what has him swollen up. His system will need to be washed out with a special machine. In fact, he took one pint of blood from his older brother. Since then he has been okay a little bit, but we need to carry the man to Ghana,” his mother repeated.If anyone has the financial hand and or heart as a parent would for their own child, you are asked to please contact 00231886631025 and 00231886531797 so that little Fernice can have an opportunity, like every child should, to live.“I am appealing to anyone to help take my son out of the country for further treatment so that he can get well. I know by Jesus’ name he will get well, because when we arrived at the hospital, the doctor said Fernice only had two days to live. Through the press and the grace of God, he is still alive. Fernice is a smart boy and very playful, his father passed away years ago from chronic infection. He is a strong kid and wants to live; he deserves to live” she cried.Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)read more

Members of Parliament on Thursday used the escalating rates of suicide and the urgent need to curb it as a political ball to criticise either side of the House when the motion was moved by Dr Vindhya Persaud. The motion was defeated.Persaud, an Opposition Member of Parliament, stated that the motion gave the National Assembly an opportunity to work together to curb the rising rate of suicide in Guyana.Dr Vindhya PersaudJunior Public Health Minister, Dr Karen CummingsCurrently, Guyana is infamously known as the suicide capital of the world, with a rate of 44.2 per every 100,000 persons. It is estimated that some 200 persons die on average from suicide every year in Guyana.Although suicide may be disguised as a culture, Persaud indicated that Guyana should not become complacent with the sporadic rises of suicide, rather it should consistently educate persons on valuing their lives.She stated that suicide is ranked as seventh of the 10 major causes of death in Guyana and the leading cause of death among young people ages 15 to 24; and third leading cause of death among ages 25 to 44 years. She lamented that it appears as though suicide was happening every day in Guyana.Dr Persaud estimated that suicide costs the Public Health Ministry about $600 million to $900 million annually, exclusive of the loss of life, family income and the emotional and psychological grief for the family members. Thus she argued that there is more room for research on suicide and an urgent need to change the law which criminalises it.She wasted no time pinpointing the deficiencies in the public health sector, which, she says, are contributing to the rise in the epidemic. “The mental health services are inadequate to meet the demand, with only three full time psychiatrists (based in Georgetown and New Amsterdam), insufficient hospital beds and trained personnel in the National Psychiatric Hospital, and no day treatment or community residential facilities, and, inadequate numbers of counsellors, to help and treat patients.”Further, she stated that there is a scarcity of counsellors in the educational system to provide support to students of all ages. She said accessibility of poisons, especially in rural agricultural communities, also heighten the situation, making it the easiest method of committing suicide in Guyana.Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan scoffed that the Opposition members would had the audacity to deride major efforts undertaken by the Government on the fight against suicide.He chided the Opposition, stating that they never saw it fit to implement any of the measures proposed in its motion during its tenure in office. Moreover he stated that the motion is an attempt to pilfer the works the Government, since it included several of the ideas already being carried out by Government ministries.However, he did agree that the fight against suicide requires a collaborative effort and that he is willing to work along with the Opposition to curb it. Nevertheless, he still casted his vote against the motion, stating that he could not support it in its original form.Junior Public Health Minister, Dr Karen Cummings griped that the increase of suicide rates did not happen overnight, but has been rising significantly over the last decade and that nothing tangible was administered to deal with it.She stated that Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) has the largest population of attempted suicides, mounted at 36.8 per cent and although the highest numbers of suicide cases occurred in Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) and Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), the prevalence rate is highest in Region Two.According to Dr Cummings, a mental health unit within the Public Health Ministry has been launched and is manned by a director and staff qualified to deal with the issue.Meanwhile, Shadow Public Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony stated that if the Government is smart, it would prioritise its interventions to focus on these high-risk groups. He stated that it should pay attention to the geographical location of the problem.“The Government’s plan has rightfully identified Region Two as having the highest suicide rates (52.7 per 100,000), followed closely by Region Six (50.1 per 100,000) and Region Three (37.3 per 100,000). Yet, the Government’s suicide interventions have been a one size fit all, instead of a custom made solution base on the regions peculiarities and specificities. This must change, to obtain meaningful impact,” he opined.Similarly, he stated that some efforts have been made to establish a mental health unit, with responsibility for suicide but the unit is housed in a dilapidated building in Quamina Street.He also lashed out that there is no National Poison Control Centre with a database of information on all toxic chemicals and poisonous substances used in Guyana that will recommend protocols for medical management of these cases.He added that the criminal prosecution and the imposition of custodial sentences on those who attempted suicide is an insult to human dignity. Decriminalisation is more enlightened and humane way of dealing with the problem, he noted. Thus, he called for the law to be reviewed. Dr Anthony stated that for every case of suicide, they many more people who attempt it. The National Suicide Prevention Plan has estimated that in Guyana for every case of suicide there are 20 to 25 attempted suicides while actual suicide in Guyana varies from year to year but it is estimated that there are about 180 to 200 cases per year. “This I contend is quite high. The truth is I don’t think the Ministry of Public Health has real numbers and this is just a guesstimate,” he said, suggesting that to prevent this from happening in the future the Ministry or some other relevant part of the Government need to establish an attempted suicide registry.read more

The Association of Caribbean Students for Equal Access to the Legal Profession (ACSEAL) has made an urgent call for attention to be paid to thousands of students who are affected in the Caribbean Community (Caricom) states, due to what they described as “unfair admission policies” at law schools in the Region.The regional body recently compiled a report highlighting the need for a law school in Guyana.ACSEAL was keen to note that the issue is one which is being administered by law schools throughout Caricom.According to the body, its support for the law school in Guyana comes from a study which was conducted to consider the “status and relevance of the current legal education system; the extent to which it meets the needs of the respective Commonwealth Caribbean societies; and concerns of discrimination in access to legal education and by extension, the legal profession.”ACSEAL also noted that the initiative of the law school, along with the other suggestions it made in its report, are intended solely to improve justice for the citizens in the Region.Some of the noteworthy findings and recommendations of the report include: the establishment of the UTech Law School in Jamaica, as well as law schools in Guyana and Antigua; the abolition of the preference-based admission policy at the regional law schools which presently grants automatic entry exclusively to University of the West Indies (UWI) law graduates.“Recognition of students’ concerns of the lack of transparency and accountability in the Council of Legal Education (CLE) Annual Entrance Examination; the abolition of the CLE Entrance Examination in its current form; and the reconstitution and reorganisation of the CLE,” the body said in a statement on Monday.Just Tuesday, <<<>>> reported that Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams announced that the shareholders agreement for a local law school is being finalised.The Government had previously said a plot of land had already been identified for the institution.Williams had attacked the Council of Legal Education (CLE) Chairman Reginald Armour for responding to the concerns raised by former Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall without consulting with the current Government on the matter.He also said that the recent increased tuition fees at the Hugh Wooding Law School and the difficulty of having Guyanese students live and study in Trinidad and Tobago also support’s Guyana’s push in this direction.To substantiate his point, the Minister said, “Tuition fees this year have been increased at Hugh Wooding and are now TT$97,000…, well over $3 million (Guyana dollars)… that’s only for tuition, they still have to live and exist in Trinidad.”He also made the point that Trinidad and Barbados churn out at least 200 law graduates yearly, while Guyana is allowed to have only 25 or less lawyers trained on an annual basis.Williams is adamant that Guyana has not been refused permission to set up a law school here. As such, preparations are being made to advance this process at the University of Guyana (UG) Turkeyen campus, where the proposed school would be built.read more

Donegal County Council has issued the following safety tips to prevent tragedy from fire at Christmas.Christmas TreesPlace real Christmas trees securely in a sturdy base filled with water – metal stands cause trees to dry out and become flammable.Check water level dailyEnsure artificial trees have been pre-treated to increase flame resistanceKeep tree away from candles, heaters, fireplaces or other heat sourcesDispose of tree properly – never burn a real tree in the fireplace View a video that demonstrates how quickly a fire can develop when a Christmas tree catches fire: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLHhG65fLeYChristmas LightsIndoorsOnly buy Christmas lights marked with a safety standardMake sure a competent person checks all connections and examines the wiring for frayingIf in doubt, throw them out.Don’t overload socketsUnplug all Christmas lights and electrical appliances before leaving your home or going to bed OutdoorsEnsure lights are suitable for outdoor useCheck all wiring and follow manufacturer’s instructions.Fasten the bulbs securely and point the sockets down to avoid moisture building up.Never use indoor extension leads outside.Keep outdoor electrical connections above ground and out of puddles and snow.Ensure trees hung with Christmas lights are not touching power linesCandlesAn Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs (ODCA) survey found that consumers are exposed to serious risk due to the lack of advice when using candles and candle-holders. Of the 482 items inspected 117 or 24.3% failed a visual risk assessment either due to lack of warnings, warnings not provided in English or because the items clearly presented a safety hazard.Remember when it comes to candles: Keep them out of reach of children and petsTrim the wick to 6mm (1/4 inch) each time before burningAlways use an appropriate candleholder placed on a stable, heat-resistant surfaceKeep burning candles away from drafts, vents and air currentsExtinguish a candle if it smokes or flickers repeatedly or if the flame becomes too highKeep the wax pool free of wick trimmings, matches and debris at all timesDo not burn a candle for longer than manufacturer recommendsExtinguish the flame if it comes too close to the holder or containerPlace lighted candles at least 75mm apart form one anotherNever place a candle on top of a TV set and keep well away from curtainsAlways extinguish candles before leaving the house or going to bedNever use candles on Christmas trees, even artificial onesRemember hot wax burns!Other Christmas Fire Safety TipsNever burn wrapping paper in your fireplaceKeep strings of Christmas cards away from candles and open firesFit a spark guard in front of open firesExtinguish cigarettes properly and do not let ashtrays get overfilledCheck that your smoke alarms are in perfect working orderNever remove batteries from smoke alarm to use in children’s toysClean out the oven and stove prior to Christmas– See more at: http://www.donegalcoco.ie/services/fireservice/communityfiresafety/#d.en.6389?platform=hootsuite Council issues Christmas fire safety tips was last modified: December 13th, 2016 by StephenShare this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window)Tags:Christmas Treescounty councildonegalfireread more

MET EIREANN has issued another storm warning for County Donegal for Christmas Eve.The forecaster says the county will be battered by extremely high winds on Tuesday between 2am and 11am.The alert is a Category Orange wind warning and applies to Connacht, Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Cork, Kerry and Limerick South to southwest winds will reach mean speeds of 65 to 80kmph and will gust 110 to 129kmph.It is valid from Tuesday 24 December 2013 02:00 until Tuesday 24 December 2013 11:00.Donegal has been hit by high winds, sleet and hail today – with snow on the hills.ESB has re-connected hundreds of homes which were without power today. Around 80 homes in Stranorlar will be reconnected before 10pm with around 90 homes in Fanad being repaired by 9.30pm. ORANGE STATUS CHRISTMAS EVE WEATHER WARNING FOR DONEGAL was last modified: December 22nd, 2013 by John2Share this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window) Tags:alertdonegal daily weatherhigh windsstormread more

AD Quality Auto 360p 720p 1080p Top articles1/5READ MORERose Parade grand marshal Rita Moreno talks New Year’s Day outfit and ‘West Side Story’ remake The more we learned about Tookie, the less “changed” he seemed. Even in his peaceful, book-writing days, he still allied himself with cop-killers and other criminals. Not only did he continue to deny his involvement in the coldblooded killing of four innocent victims, but he started to downplay his former involvement with the Crips. In a state that overwhelmingly backs the death penalty, there was little reason why Williams should be the exception to the rule, other than that he had assembled an entourage of celebrity supporters and death-penalty opponents. But in the end, his entourage did far more harm than good. There are legitimate questions to be asked about how the death penalty works in California. The state’s appeals process is so convoluted that most condemned murderers die of natural causes well before going to the death chamber. The result is an absurdly costly system that can’t be called a deterrent, and a form of punishment so arbitrary that it could be called cruel and unusual. This is a problem that’s not easily solved. Most Californians, though supportive of capital punishment, would likely be uneasy about adopting a system like Texas’ that is is less rigorous about establishing murderers’ guilt. Do we want to risk executing those who truly are innocent? After more than two decades of legal wrangling, Tookie Williams finally met his fate in the San Quentin execution chamber early Tuesday morning. And while his case raises some important questions for Californians to consider, there can be little doubt about two key points: Williams was guilty, and he was not meaningfully reformed. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger made that much abundantly clear in the six-page statement he released to explain his decision not to grant Williams clemency. Although Williams’ supporters had long claimed his innocence, the overwhelming evidence proved otherwise, well beyond a reasonable doubt. Meanwhile, Williams’ utter lack of contrition belied his claims of redemption. To be sure, Williams was not the same man he was when he entered prison some 25 years ago, a hardened and hateful gang thug. But as the public looked into his case over the last few weeks, it was obvious he fell short of the mythical portrait of rehabilitation that his supporters had painted. But rather than addressing these worthwhile issues, death-penalty opponents decided to align themselves with an unrepentant murderer who made the oxymoronic claim that he is both blameless and redeemed. In so doing, they failed to persuade anyone other than themselves, giving the impression that they’re not so much anti-death penalty as pro-murderer. The execution of Tookie Williams was a tragedy. Not because it was unwarranted – through his early crimes and later obstinacy, he sealed his own fate – but because Williams was obviously a bright, talented man who ultimately chose death over life. And in turning his case into a celebrity cause du jour based on deceit, death-penalty opponents squandered a chance to address some of the important issues it raised.160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set!read more

A collective of drama and performing arts groups from across the county have launched a campaign to secure dedicated space for rehearsals and prop-building.The #GiveUsSpace campaign was launched today with an open letter, which puts the dire situation faced by arts groups in the spotlight.Seven of Donegal’s largest and most successful drama and musical theatre ensembles say that finding a place to practice is the greatest challenge they face in a production. For others, the cold, unsuitable places where they are forced to rehearse has given rise to health and safety issues or put entire plays at risk of being cancelled.“The current situation is terrible – with no building that is dedicated to the performing arts that can facilitate the large number of groups and societies who are in such great need of it,” the letter says.“We are blessed here in Donegal with fantastic facilities that cater for many sports.“However, what is sorely being missed is a place, especially for children who have not got such a keen interest in sport, where children and adults can develop both personally and artistically. “Currently these artistic spaces are cold, dank warehouses or school study halls. It would be hard to expect a football team to train on a tennis court and to then expect good results.”The type of warehouses used by the local theatre groups for practice and prop buildingThe letter has been signed by Workhouse Theatre Company, Triumph Dance and Performing Arts, The Lifford Players, Letterkenny Music and Drama Group, Letterkenny Pantomime Society, Letterkenny Musical Society and The Butt Drama Circle.The groups are united in their call for something they say Donegal has never had before – a safe and suitable centre for groups to create good productions and to give audiences the best possible experience.“We meet for rehearsals in my living room in St. Johnston,” says Ed Flanagan of the Lifford Players Drama Group. “It’s not big enough. My garage is what we use for props and it’s pretty cramped as well. Unless a group has its own theatre, there’s nowhere for them.”The Lifford Players’ last production entertained over 1,000 people and Ed is keen to point out the high standard of productions that are self-funded and performed on a voluntary basis. “Bringing theatre to the masses cannot be underplayed,” he says, “it’s big for tourism, it’s big for local people and for families.”The Lifford Players perform Dancing at Lughnasa in 2018The ideal creative centre for such groups would contain two rooms and a workshop for building props. Warmth, suitable flooring and tea-making facilities are just some of the features which the groups dream of having.At other times, basic facilities such as toilets have been unavailable for groups who have only had access to warehouses in the past.Iarla McGowan, Director of Workhouse Theatre Company, who is leading the #GiveUsSpace campaign, says he has experienced some very unsuitable practice spaces in recent years. Workhouse Theatre Company“You’re meeting in a leaky warehouse that is noisy, cold and there could be a shaky set in the back of the room ready to tip. People have to get in their cars and drive into the town to go to the toilet.“Our arts scene is excellent, but what goes on behind the scenes is messy and unsafe.“You have all these great groups in Donegal who have been pulled out by the generosity of businesspeople.“The lack of rehearsal space nearly jeopardised our last Workhouse show. It was only at the 11th hour we managed to find a space in a yoga studio to practice – and this was largely down to the kindness of a (then) stranger who could see what we were trying to achieve and believed in it,” Iarla says.Workhouse Theatre Company Summer YouthLab had to go outdoors due to a lack of functional spaceThe Letterkenny Pantomime Society will be marking its 70th anniversary in 2020. Over the decades they have rehearsed in pubs, hotels, the church, football clubs and schools.“It’s always a struggle to get space,” says Patrick Doherty from the Pantomime Society. Their upcoming play, Cinderella, will have a cast of almost 200. The age range varies from as young as four to cast members in their eighties.“At the minute the small kids are out at Illistrin NS. They are very good to give us the place but a big cold hall and it’s not ideal,” Patrick says. “Sports clubs have their facilities, but we were out making our props in an old shed at St. Conal’s, during the winter with the rain coming in.”The Letterkenny Music and Drama Group come against the same problems when they go to build a set.Pluincead Ferry says, “Every year we are begging people to give us room. I’ve been in shows since 1984 and we are so lucky in that we have the Convent for our practices. But we have been all around the town for set space and it’s an awful nuisance.”Letterkenny theatre groups using alternative spaces for rehearsals – the Letterkenny Music and Drama Group relies on Loreto LetterkennyThe #GiveUsSpace open letter is being circulated to local politicians and Donegal County Council today. The letter says that drama, musical theatre, dance and performing arts groups have been neglected when it comes to the allocation of facilities.Iarla says: ” People think there is ample space around Letterkenny but this is not the case.“People might ask ‘why not use the theatre or the arts centres?’ But the answer to this is that there is no adequate or conducive places to rehearse within them – especially for casts over a certain number. This is a familiar pattern across the county.“We have great buildings to perform in but nowhere suitable for the actual making of these productions which might take a year to workshop, practice and build before it comes to showtime.“It really has got to the point where a large rehearsal space, a prop building area and a set store is made available for the growing number of groups and all under one roof.“Why? so shows can be made safely and that those involved can be the best they possibly can be.”Letterkenny Music and Drama Group rehearsing on the stairs of An Grianan TheatreAndrea Emmett, founder of TRIUMPH Performing Arts, adds that a shared creative hub would enable groups to collaborate more and be more supportive of each other.Andrea has been teaching dance at TRIUMPH for three years from the Aura Leisure Centre.Triumph Performing Arts practising without mirrors in the Aura Leisure Centre Basketball Court“If we didn’t have the Aura we wouldn’t have TRIUMPH. But I have to book space outside of the time that fitness classes are on. This leaves only Saturdays available,” she says.“The last day the dancers were practising for an All-Ireland final. We were given a quarter of the basketball court to practice, with basketball going on around us.“There is a great emphasis on fitness across Donegal but nowhere to support practising the arts. We need somewhere that puts the arts first.”Those behind the #GiveUsSpace campaign are passionate about the necessity that any future building project would have to include input from the theatre societies.Iarla says: “It is vital that when this centre is built it is built in the right way for future generations – and in consultation with the theatre makers here in Donegal. If people are not given a good experience of theatre and performance when they are young then they are not going to have a keen interest in it in later life. This can then have a damaging effect on theatre audiences.“This centre will be used to help that young boy or girl who might not have an avenue to express themselves through which others might have through sport. This is to nurture their personal development. Whether they be the next theatre maker or theatre goer. Both are equally as important.“Theatre and drama groups have put up with the struggle to find space for far too long now. It is now vital for our community that something now changes.”The #GiveUsSpace Open Letter, launched on 20th November 2019Drama behind the scenes as theatre groups call for rehearsal space was last modified: November 22nd, 2019 by Rachel McLaughlinShare this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window)Tags:#GiveUsSpacecreative centredramarehearsaltheatreread more